Study says Kansas could be hydropower power

A federal study says that harnessing the power of Kansas rivers could produce enough electricity to keep every home in the state lit, The Wichita Eagle reports.

Kansas ranks 12th in the nation in potential hydropower, according to a study by the U.S. Department of Energy and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. In all, the study estimates Kansas could generate 2.5 gigawatts of electricity, mainly from low hydropower dams on rivers.

However, the chief engineer with the Kansas Division of Water Resources, sounds skeptical of the finding. Particularly puzzling is the finding that the Arkansas River has the most untapped potential — although parts of the river only flow above-ground after hard rains.